Jennifer Zabarylo Case: Charge Upgraded

Ottawa police continue to investigate the death of 47-year-old Jennifer Zabarylo, who was found in a home on Lady Slipper Way, west of Stittsville, on August 25, 2024.

Police classified the case as a femicide because investigators believe it occurred in the context of intimate partner violence. It was the first time the Ottawa Police Service officially used the term in a homicide investigation. However, femicide is not currently a separate offence under Canada’s Criminal Code.

Zabarylo was a longtime civilian employee at Royal Canadian Navy headquarters. The Department of National Defence expressed its condolences to her family and colleagues.

Michael Zabarylo, 55, was initially charged with second-degree murder. According to the latest published police update, the charge was upgraded to first-degree murder on April 9, 2025, after investigators obtained additional evidence. Police have not released further details because the evidence will be presented in court. The charge has not been proven, and the accused is presumed innocent unless found guilty.